Assistance, Damage Reporting, and Cleanup Resources
The City of Auburn is sharing the following recovery information for residents and businesses impacted by recent flooding events. This message includes important details about damage reporting, potential federal assistance, and available cleanup resources.
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The first step after a disaster is to document your damages and contact your insurance provider. Government and many non-profit resources cannot duplicate insurance.
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Keep receipts, invoices, and other documentation for all costs and damages. Most assistance programs will require documentation.
WA State Resources
- State Individual Assistance (IA) – Apply online at sahelp.org or by phone at 833-719-4981 by March 2, 2026.
Eligible households:
- Earn 80 percent or less of the area median gross income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
- Show that their primary residence was destroyed or suffers major damage (water has reached the electrical outlets on the home’s first floor) by flooding events between Dec. 5 and Dec. 22, 2025.
- You may be asked to provide the following documentation.
- As State IA programs are released all applications are reviewed for eligibility. You do NOT need to re-apply.
Programs include:
- Household Needs Grant– grant assistance for those who:
- Grant amount is determined by household size
- 1 person - $350; 2-4 persons - $750; 5+ persons - $1,125
- Extended Sheltering Assistance – provides temporary, short-term shelter, such as hotel or motel stays, for households who cannot safely return home and do not yet have access to rental housing.
- Provided for limited periods, with regular reviews (up to three weeks)
- Rental Assistance – helps displaced households secure temporary rental housing while they recover.
- May help cover: Security deposits, Monthly rent
- Assistance length depends on household circumstances. Homeowners/Renters are eligible for up to 3 months of assistance. Continued rental assistance for 1 additional month (4 months total) may be available for eligible households.
- Unmet Needs Assessment – Provides case management and recovery assistance.
- Support may include local, state, federal, nonprofit, and donated resources.
You can submit questions and communicate directly with case managers through the chat on sahelp.org or call 833-719-4981, select option 2 to speak to someone about the status of your submission. You will need to have your application number available when you call.
King County Resources
- DCHS Housing Repair Program – Assistance to low and moderate-income homeowners and renters with disabilities in most parts of King County.
- Up to $9,000 to address urgent or life-threatening conditions in the home.
- Must own and live in home, household income at or below 50% King County median, no more than $20,000 in assets (except home equity), people with a disability are exempt from the asset limit.
- Call 206-263-9095 for more information.
- Unincorporated King County Flood and Weather Recovery Grant Program – Managed by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce to support small businesses and human service organizations that sustained damage due to the December 2025 storms.
City of Auburn Resources
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Auburn Resource Center – Weekly local resource fair.
- Open: Thursdays, 1:30 - 3:30 PM
- Address: 2814 Auburn Way North, Auburn, WA 98002
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Auburn Food Bank– Provides food, financial services, and sheltering for those in the Auburn School District (Auburn, Algona, and Pacific).
- Special funding for those who were affected by the flood. Please call for information. No income limit.
- Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PMWednesday - CLOSED (4:30 - 5:30 PM second Wednesday of each month)
- Address: 2804 Auburn Way North, Auburn WA 98002
- For questions call 253-833-8925
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City of Auburn Community Development and Buildings Staff – Assists with building and land use permitting, business licensing, code compliance, and related community development programs.
Additional Resources
- UDSA - Grants to help producers impacted by the December floods. Most deadlines to report losses are March 2, 2026
Current programs:
- Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey-Bees, and Farm-raised Fish
- Livestock Indemnity Program
- Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
- Tree Assistance Program
- Emergency Conservation Program
- Emergency Forest Restoration Program
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program
- Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Producers should contact their local USDA service center for more information: King County Dashboard | Farmers.gov
- U.S. Department of Labor
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Dislocated worker grant provides education, trainings and job opportunities for eligible participants. This may include those temporarily or permanently laid off as a consequence of the disaster; Dislocated workers as defined in WIOA Section 3(15), including displaced homemakers as defined in WIOA Section 3(16); Long term unemployed individual (as defined by the state or other eligible entity); self-employed individuals who became un or under employed as a result of the disaster.
- More information is available on DOL.gov
- Grants will come through local workforce development councils: Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County
News: Employment Security receives $1 million in emergency funds to help dislocated workers affected by December's record flooding
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REALTORS® Relief Foundation – Housing Assistance Available
- The REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) has approved disaster relief funding to assist Washington residents whose primary residence was damaged by recent flooding.
- Eligible residents may apply for housing-related financial assistance of up to $1,000 per household. Assistance may be used toward:
- Monthly mortgage expenses for a damaged primary residence
- Rental costs due to displacement
- Hotel reimbursement due to displacement
- This program is available to any qualified Washington resident. You do not need to be a REALTOR® member to apply.
- Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and are contingent upon the availability of funds.
- Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
- Before applying, residents are encouraged to review the Required Documentation Checklist to determine eligibility and required materials.
- Questions may be directed to: [email protected] or 800-562-6024